By: Sara Gregory, PSE/CHE ’27

The start of a new school year is always exciting, and this year, TAPPI made sure to kick things off with a full week of fun! TAPPI Welcome Week gave Paper Science & Engineering students the opportunity to reconnect with friends, meet new classmates, and welcome our newest members.

We started the week on Monday with our annual FDOC Cookout, where everyone gathered to enjoy hamburgers, hotdogs, and some time outside together. We were also excited to receive two brand-new cornhole boards from GCF! We are incredibly thankful for their generous donation and look forward to putting the boards to good use at future TAPPI events.

On Tuesday, two of our seniors hosted an ice cream social at their house. It was a great opportunity to relax, enjoy some ice cream, and get to know each other outside of the classroom. Wednesday brought out everyone’s competitive and musical sides as we headed to Sammy’s Tap & Grill for karaoke. There were plenty of laughs, great performances, and memories made throughout the night.

Thursday night was filled with games during our casino and card game night. Students had the chance to play a variety of games while spending time with friends and getting to know other students in the major. We wrapped up the week on Friday with a trip to Drive Shack, where everyone enjoyed some friendly competition and a fun night together.

Overall, TAPPI Welcome Week was a fantastic way to start the school year. With so many opportunities to meet new people and spend time with classmates, we especially enjoyed welcoming our new freshmen into the PSE family. We are so excited to see what this year has in store and look forward to all the events, memories, and opportunities ahead!

Here’s to a great year in PSE and another exciting year with TAPPI!